DISCLOSURES
News and Tips from the Public Disclosure Commission
Full-reporting campaigns: File MANDATORY C-4 REPORTS before primary
Candidates and committees registered as full-reporting and participating in the August primary must file three mandatory expenditure reports (C-4) due 21 and 7 days before the election, and on the 10th day of the following month.
These reports are due regardless of campaign activity. This means that you must file a report even if your campaign has not raised or spent money during the reporting period.
For the 2026 primary, due dates are as follows:
- 21-day report: July 14
- 7-day report: July 28
- Post-primary report: Sept. 10
Mark your calendars! Failure to file these reports, or late filing, will result in PDC enforcement action and could lead to penalties that multiply with each report.
See more information on reporting deadlines and other key dates.
pdcFAQ: What is an independent expenditure, and how does it differ from a campaign contribution?
Independent expenditures (IE) are expenses, such as advertisements, that advocate for or against a candidate or ballot measure, and are not done in coordination with that candidate or ballot measure’s campaign. These are not classified as campaign contributions, and therefore have no monetary limit.
Campaign contributions are either made directly to a campaign, or, in the case of an advertising purchase, with the knowledge or cooperation of that campaign. These expenditures are subject to limits.
Both contributions and independent expenditures must be reported on the contributor or sponsor’s regular C-4 reports, but IEs must also be reported on a C-6 report, available through the PDC’s online filing system.
The PDC recently updated its C-6 filing system for reporting IEs and electioneering communications. Read more about this change and see a link to instructions.
PDC conducts candidate F-1, C-1 enforcement process for 2026 election season
In June, the PDC began its annual group enforcement process to enforce requirements for candidates to file personal financial affairs statements (F-1) and campaign registrations (C-1) within two weeks of beginning their candidacy.
On May 27, the PDC sent 52 hearing notices for candidates for the 2026 election who had late filings or who failed to file their C-1, F-1, or both. Of those, 27 candidates went to a brief enforcement hearing on June 24. The remainder of the cases were resolved before the hearing. Commission Chair J Leach issued fines totaling nearly $13,000 during that brief hearing.
On June 25, the Commission conducted three full hearings for candidates and officials with past violations for failing to file the C-1, F-1, or both. These resulted in fines totaling $6,000. While cases involving first-time violations are handled in brief enforcement hearings before just the Commission chair, cases involving repeat offenders sometimes come before the full commission and generally involve higher penalties.
PDC staff will also present a group enforcement process this year for late or delinquent annual F-1 reports for existing officials, and for late or missing mandatory expenditure reports (C-4) before the primary and general elections. In fiscal year 2025, the PDC resolved about 230 staff-generated cases, most of them as part of group enforcement.
Check your email – requests for campaign books of account start on July 25
In the 10 days before the primary election, members of the public can request to see a candidate’s campaign books of account. For the 2026 primary, this period lasts from July 25 to Aug. 3.
Failure to respond to these requests could result in PDC enforcement action. Make sure to keep an eye on your email inbox and spam folder during this time.
Check your registration – if you don’t regularly check the email listed as a contact for campaign books requests, amend your registration.
For assistance, email the PDC at pdc@pdc.wa.gov or call us at 360-753-1111.
Key dates
Our filer assistance team is here for you.
- Weekly contribution (C-3) reporting for candidates and committees participating in the 2026 general election cycle begins June. 1 and runs through the election.
- The PDC will be closed Friday, July 3 for Independence Day.
- The 21-day pre-primary C-4 report is due on July 14. This report is mandatory for full-reporting candidates and committees regardless of financial activity.
- The pre-primary campaign books inspection period starts July 25 and ends Aug. 3.
- The 7-day pre-primary C-4 report is due on July 28. This report is mandatory for full-reporting candidates and committees regardless of financial activity.
- Special reporting of last minute contributions begins July 28 and ends Aug. 3.
- The primary election is on Aug. 4.
- The post-primary C-4 report is due on Sept. 10. This report is mandatory for full-reporting candidates and committees regardless of financial activity.
See all upcoming dates at the PDC’s online calendar.
For questions, email us at pdc@pdc.wa.gov
Sign up now for upcoming trainings
Do you have questions about filing or using the PDC’s online filing systems? It’s always a good time to learn more! Enroll now for free trainings coming up in the next few months.
Space in our classes fills up quick – be sure to sign up in advance.
Upcoming classes include:
- Disclosure 101: Candidates and Committees at 10 a.m. July 8, 6 p.m. July 9 and 1:30 p.m. Aug. 5
- Walk-Through: Online Reporting of Campaign Activity (ORCA) at 6 p.m. July 8, 10 a.m. July 9 and 1:30 p.m. Aug. 12.
Upcoming lunch and learn events include:
- Reporting expenditures (C-4) at 12 p.m. July 7
Find information about training, reporting deadlines and events on our online calendar.
See more training content on the PDC’s YouTube channel.
WA Public Disclosure Commission
711 Capitol Way, Olympia, WA 98504